Boycott seeking $70 per hour for court-appointed lawyers fizzled when other attorneys took the cases

Several defense attorneys in Maine were hoping a boycott of all sexual assault cases would persuade the state to raise its hourly rate for court-appointed lawyers in all criminal cases from $50 to $70.

But the attorney organized-labor movement fizzled out when the state was able to find defense lawyers willing to take such cases, even though some did refuse to do so, reports the Morning Sentinel.

Hence, “the standstill we were hoping we would create wasn’t created,” said attorney Walter Hanstein, one of the organizers.

Court-appointed criminal defense lawyers are scheduled for a rate increase, to $55 per hour, as of July 1. It is their first pay raise in 15 years.